About this episode

This episode features a conversation with Dr. LaNail R. Plummer about her book aimed at improving counseling for Black women.

As Black History month ends and Women's History month begins, this week's episode is a conversation with Dr. LaNail R. Plummer, author of The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women. Dr. Plummer, the Counseling Department Chair at Trinity University, explains that while many Black women seek therapists who look like them, with only 4% of the mental health workforce made up of Black women, there was a need for a book for white clinicians and others who are not Black to learn how best to serve this group. As Dr. Plummer points out, Black women are not a monolithic group, and rather than the burden being on them to educate their therapists about culturally competent therapy, clinicians can pick up this book and learn for themselves the best ways to support Black women. Dr. Plummer adds that she hopes Black women will also find her book to be a valuable resource in their healing journeys. Dr. LaNail R. Plummer is a visionary mental health expert, educator, speaker, and author dedicated to redefining how minorities are seen, supported, and healed in clinical spaces. Her book, The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women (WW Norton & Co), is her first of three serving as both…

People in this episode

Host: Laura Reagan

Guest: Dr. LaNail R. Plummer

Topics covered

• counseling
• Black women
• mental health
• cultural competence
• therapy

Keywords

• Black women
• mental health
• counseling
• cultural competence
• therapy resources

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Trinity University, WW Norton & Co

Books & works: The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women

More episodes of Therapy Chat

• 524: The Motherhood Myth with Vanessa Bennett · April 20, 2026 · 49 min
• 523: Yoga + Sexual Trauma - With Zabie Yamasaki · April 14, 2026 · 46 min
• 522: Connecting To The Wisdom Within Us - With Zulma Reyo · April 7, 2026 · 32 min
• 521: Marginalized Couples In Therapy with Akilah Riley Richardson · March 30, 2026 · 43 min
• 520: Integrating The Family Into Child Therapy with Dafna Lender · March 25, 2026 · 51 min
• 519: Expressive Arts Therapy + Trauma | Dr. Cathy Malchiodi · March 17, 2026 · 54 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Therapy Chat podcast page.